March.'] ornamental flowering shrubs. 53 



semi- double, and single; the colors are pink, red, purple, 

 white, yellow, and striped, with almost every shade and mix- 

 ture ; the odor universally grateful. This plant is cultivat- 

 ed in every garden, from the humblest cottager to the loftiest 

 prince, and by commercial gardeners in Europe extensively, 

 for distilling rose water, and making the essential oil -of roses. 

 They delight in a rich loamy soil, and require plenty of 

 moisture while in a growing state. Those sorts which throw 

 up numerous suckers should be lifted every three or four 

 years, reduced, and then transplanted. When thus removing 

 them, avoid, as much as possible, exposing their roots ; and 

 when newly planted, mulching is of considerable advantage ; 

 that is, putting half rotten stable-manure on the surface of 

 the ground round their roots, which prevents evaporation, 

 and keeps up a constant moisture. If this were done in 

 general to our roses in dry seasons, it would greatly improve 

 their flowering. For Chinese and other roses, see next month. 



CLIMBING ROSES. 



This is the best time to prune ever-blooming climbing 

 roses, such as Chamjpney^ Noisette^ &c. Many of these, 

 when allowed to grow year after year without pruning, be- 

 come unsightly : they never bear flowers on the old wood, 

 that is, wood of three or four years. Having a tendency to 

 throw out young shoots from the bottom of the stem, the old 

 wood should be cut out, thus encouraging the young wood, 

 which the second year bears the most and finest flowers. 

 In severe winters, the extremities of the shoots are frequent- 

 ly killed, and we have often seen all the wood black or brown, 

 and apparently dead. When that is the case, it is best to 

 leave it until they begin to grow, which will show what is 

 dead or alive, when they can be pruned to better advantage. 



DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL FLOWERING SHRUBS. 



The earlier the j)lanting of these shrubs is attended to in 

 this month, the more will their growth and flowering be pro- 

 moted, having all finished before the buds begin to expand. 



5"^ 



